Install a Ceiling Fan.

A ceiling fan helps to keep you cool in the summer and you can switch your fan to make its blades rotate in reverse, creating a soft breeze of warm air upwards. Ceiling fans can save you a lot of money: while a central air conditioning unit usually uses up to 3,500 watts of energy, a ceiling fan will only use 60 watts. A ceiling fan can also be an easy way to add décor to your home design if you choose one with an interesting design.

Vanity Lights.

Did you know the bathroom vanity is one of the highest used fixtures in the home? A good way to prevent excess energy loss in the bathroom vanity is to replace its lighting with energy-efficient certified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) as these help to generate less heat, saving you energy. A window close to the vanity can also help to keep the area illuminated during the day, as can be seen in the image above.

Warm up with Drapes.

Hanging beautiful drapes can be a great way to add color and pattern to the décor of a room. However, your drapes can also be useful to help you maximize the heat absorption of your home. During winter, keep the drapes opened during the day so that natural light can enter the home. This prevents you from having to use an indoor heating system.

MoreINSPIRATION

Use reflective window film on your windows as this can help to decrease the amount of heat that enters your home during the summer months, preventing the use of an air conditioning system. From a décor perspective, window film is also important because it prevents carpets, rugs and furniture from fading due to regular sun exposure.

Lighting Under the Radar.

Using lighting under your kitchen cabinets or countertops can highlight these surfaces and allow maximum energy efficiency. Make sure you install LED lighting to achieve this. LED lights are excellent energy-saving sources, plus they create warm yet modern kitchen décor.

Plant Trees for Climate Control.

Landscaping is an important part of ensuring your home looks beautiful, but it can also prevent energy wastage. By planting deciduous trees on the south and west of your home, you allow the trees to shield your house from the sun. In winter, these branches that are stripped of their leaves will be able to let the sun into your home to keep it warm.

Install Skylights.

On the subject of making the most of natural light, consider installing skylights in your home. This is especially important in a room that does not have any windows. A passage or hallway containing small skylights on the ceiling creates an interesting balance in the design of your living space while preventing dark, cold areas.

About the author

Stefan is the owner of Homedit.com – he started the site back in November 2008, from his passion for interior design and decorations and since then the site went from being a simple blog to one of the most popular home design websites on the web right now.